Liverpool is to celebrate a decade of "amazing success" since being European Capital of Culture with a year-long programme of "inspirational" events.

In 2008, Gustav Klimt paintings, Sir Paul McCartney and a 50ft mechanical spider all appeared in what the city council called a "game-changing year".

An Irish culture festival, a weekend of cardboard castles and other events are planned to mark the "milestone".

Mayor Joe Anderson said there will be some "incredibly special moments".

Liverpool City Council said the majority of Liverpool 2018's 40-plus events and festivals would be free and aimed at positioning "culture and creativity at the heart of all aspects of the city".

The programme will include four "seasons", which will focus around the Terracotta Warriors exhibition at the World Museum, the centenaries of the end of World War One and women being given the right to vote, the summer's Fifa World Cup and the changing nature of Liverpool's jobs market.

Alongside them, The Feis - a new annual festival of Irish culture - will be launched, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic will celebrate "all things piano" and French artist Olivier Grossetete will recreate "lost castles from across the city region in the exact places they once stood".